Rossi Back In Parma

United's 20-year-old Italian striker will spend the remainder of the season on loan at Parma, his former club.

Giuseppe Rossi arrived in 2004 and quickly established himself as the most impressive player of the Reserves. His first team outings were limited to the Carling Cup but his reputation was growing rapidly. On transfer deadline day last summer, he was loaned out to Newcastle where he turned out to be a peripheral figure in the shadows of the likes of Martins, Ameobi, Sibierski or even Luque...

Sir Alex Ferguson called the player back when the deal expired this month and confirmed he would stay with the first team as he might be useful in United's hunt for trophies. But with Henrik Larsson looking like an excellent acquisition and Dong signed his new contract, Rossi would have found his options limited to say the least.

So, the decision was made: they youngster will head back to his former club Parma who are deeply in relegation trouble and scored a paltry 16 goals in 19 games. Hopefully he'll get the opportunities he deserves.

I still fear for his United future, to be honest. The Reds are linked with names as Fernando Torres or Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and buying a top-class, young striker would mean Rossi could never establish himself as a key member at the first team...